Wheel structure



April 14, 1942.

G. A. LYON WHEEL STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 25, 1940 C5020: /7 seer ZJ o/y.

S PATENT OFFICE UNITED STATE WHEEL STRUCTURE George Albert Lyon, Allelihurst, N. J. Application November 25, 1940, Serial No. 366,971

, v 4 Claims.

This invention relates to'a wheel structure,

and more particularly to a wheelcover member either in the form of a solid .disk or an annulus having novel means for detachably-retaining it on the wheel. I base flange I2 is a wheel body or spider I3 which An object of this invention is to provide an is of a bulged or convex shape and-includes the. improved construction for detachably retaining a usual central wheel fastening flange l4. wheel covering member on the tire rim of the Cooperable with this wheel is a circular cover wheel. l member l5 which is illustrated in section in Fig- Another object of this invention is to provide ure 3 and in elevation in Figure'2. This cover a novel wheel covering member conforming inmember is of a cross-sectional shape such that it timat'ely in shape with the shape of the portion closely follows the contour of the outer side of of the wheel covered thereby and adapted to be the wheel including the outer side of the rim Ill resiliently snapped into retaining engagement I and the wheel body I3. .This cover member l5 with the shoulder of the tire rim. may be in the form of a solid disk as shown in In accordance with the general features of the invention, there is provided in a wheel structure, including a wheel having a flanged and shouldered tire rim, a circular cover member or disk formed to be resilientlysnapped into retained engagement behind the shoulder of therim and having an outer peripheral edge normally distorted out of a circular shape at a plurality of spaced portions and each portion being flexible upon engagement with the shoulder in a direction such as to flex the edge back to circular shape and to place the edge under resilient stress whereby it resiliently grips the shoulder to hold the cover member on the wheel.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates several embodiments thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel cover made in accordance with the features of this invention but prior to the distorting of the same out of a circular shape;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but show-- ing'the outer peripheral edge of the cover member distorted at a plurality of points so that the edge is non-circular;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-seccover of Figure 2 applied thereto;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view corresponding to a portion of Figure Y tional view similar to Figure 4'showing a slightly modifiediorm of cover member which is in the form of an annulus.

As shown on the drawing:

turned or formedinto a head [6 which is of a.

v tional view taken-through a wheel showing the The reference character Ill designates generally a stepped or drop center type of tire rim including a multiple of stepped flanges II and a base flange l2. Secured in any suitable way to the Figures 2 and 3 or may be in the form of an annulus as shown inthe modification oi Figure 5. It is made by any suitable press equipment from sheet material such, for example, as steel sheets. I have obtained excellent results in the making of disk members from stainless steel and 18-8 steel (18 parts chromium and 8 parts nickel).

. The outer edge of the cover member I5 is diameter that it may be flexed into retaining cooperation with a shoulder l8 at the outer edge of one side flange of the tire rim l0.

In' order to provide for the retention of this cover member on the. wheel I buckle the outer peripheral dge It of this cover member at aplurality of points ll (Figure 2) so that the edge is normally distorted out of the true circular shape shown in Figure 1 to the buckled or distorted shape shown in Figure 2. It will be perceived that the distortion at the points I1 is so slight that there is no readily perceptible change in the cross sectional shape of the beaded edge 16.

As a consequence, if the edge I8 is pressed into a circular confining area of a diameter slightly less than that of the buckled edge, the buckled edge will be distorted in a direction tending to bring it back to its original circular shape. Obviously, while it is thus held in a shape more nearly approaching or equal to a circle,it will be under stress or tension. As'shownin Figure 4,

the outer beaded edge 16 of the cover member 05 is, when the cover member is pressed home into covering position on the wheel, jammed or wedged behind the shoulder. l8 on the tire rim,"

tions ll are deflected inwardly so that the edge is pressed in a direction toward its original circular condition shown in Figure 1. Hence the edge,

when it is behind the shoulder II, is stressed or, in other words, has a tendency to spring outwardLy toward the buckled ordistorted condition shown in Figure 2. Itis this stress or resiliency which is utilized to wedge and retain the wheel While I have in the preferred form illustrated the cover member asbeing in the form of a full disk, it is, of course, to be understood that it may be in the form of an annulus as shown in Figure 5. In addition, the cover member as shown in Figure 3 is stepped and curved so as to conform closely with the shape of the side flanges ll of the rim as well as that of the convex wheel body or spider l3.

In the modification shown in Figure 5, the cover member [5' is in the form of an annulus and has its outer beaded or turned edge It snapped intoretained engagement with an intertion the inner edge of the annular cover member I5 is positioned to engage in junction-of the base flange I! with the'wheel body I3 of the wheel.

g It will also be observed that I utilize the rim shoulder 20 inthe retaining of the wheel cover on the wheel. This shoulder or abutment is one of two provided in the rim flanges to prevent slipping or sliding of the tire beads toward the base flange of the rim. Without such shoulders there is a marked tendency of the beads slidin transversely toward the rim base flange when the tire is punctured and, thereby occasioning damage to or excessive wear of the tire. Thus these shoulders are employed for a dual function in my present novel wheel construction.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wheel structure, a wheel including a flanged and shouldered tire rim and a circular covering member formed to be resiliently snapped into retained engagement behind a shoulder of the rim, said member having an outer peripheral edge normally distorted out of a circular shape at a plurality of spaced portions and said portions being flexible upon engagement with said shoulder ina direction such as to flex said edge back to circular shape and to place said edge under resilient stress whereby it resiliently grips said rim shoulder.

2. In a wheel structure, a wheel including a flanged and shouldered tire rim and a circular member and to provide a strengthened shoulder engageable by a pry-off tool. 7

3. In a wheel structure, a wheel including a flanged and shouldered tire rim and a circular covering member formed to be resiliently snapped into retained engagement behind a shoulder of the rim, said member having an outer peripheral edge normally distorted out of a circu-.

lar. shape at a plurality of spaced portions and said portions being flexible upon engagement with said 'shoulder in a direction such as to flex said edge back to circular shape and to place said edge under resilient stress whereby it resiliently grips said rim shoulder, said member having its outer marginal portion inside said edge stepped in shape to correspond to the flanged contour of,

one side of said rim.

4. In a wheel structure, a wheel including a flanged and shouldered tire rim and a circular .coveri'ng member formed to be resiliently snappedinto retained engagement behind a shoulder of the rim, said member having an outer peripheral edge normally distorted out of a circular shape at a plurality of spacedportions and said portions being flexible upon engagement with said shoulder in a direction such as to fle'x said edge back to circular shape and to place said edge under resilient stress whereby it resiliently grips said rim shoulder, said member having its outer marginal portion inside said edge stepped in shape to correspond to the flanged contour of one side of said rim, and having an axially in- GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

